Drooping Leucothoe	Bush Cinquefoil	Red Budded Mountain Laurels Updated 6/24/09

6/4/09  At the Athletic Center in the islands between the parking lots are several Amur Maples {Acer ginnala} with clusters of cream colored flowers that are highlighted by the background of lustrous green foliage.  The prolific amount of fruit will turn red in August and then silver for the winter months.  There is also excellent fall foliage on this small often shrubby Maple.  At the southwest corner of the HUB is a 'Winter King' Hawthorn {Crataegus viridis 'Winter King'} that has clusters of white flowers that are followed in the fall by excellent red fruit that will hang on well into winter and is this tree's best ornamental attribute.  This tree also develops a wide spreading oval shade that is very attractive.  Around the west and north sides of the President's residence are many older Black Locusts {Robinia psuedoacacia} that have fragrant racemes of white flowers up to 8" long.  The picture was taken on Pearl Street where there are some younger trees that have flowers closer to the ground.  In the garden on the north side of the HUB snack bar is a group of evergreen 'Nova Zembla' Rhododendrons {R. catawbiense 'Nova Zembla'} that has large clusters of red flowers.

Amur Maples	'Winter King' Hawthorn	Black Locusts	'Nova Zembla' Rhododendrons

6/2/09  On Merrill Street on the far side of the Hogan House is a bed with 2 varieties of Exbury Azaleas {Rhododendron x 'Exbury'}.  The reddish-range flowered plant is 'Gibraltar' and the yellow flowered variety is 'Percil'.  These have been very dependable bloomers after several years of becoming established.

'Percil' Azaleas	'Gibraltar' Azaleas

5/29/09  In front of the Bagley Center is a Carolina Allspice {Calycanthus floridus} in bloom with reddish brown flowers that appear to be dried.  They are fragrant and another common name for this is Sweetshrub.  Across Highland St. from here is a 'Tricolor' European Beech {Fagus sylvatica 'Tricolor'} that has leaves edged in pink.  I planted this in the high shade of mature Maples so the pink edges would not burn from the summer sun.  At the northeast corner of Hyde Hall are some newly planted Fringetrees {Chionanthus virginicus} with finely cut white flowers.  Across the way at the southwest corner of the Counseling Center is an Oyama Magnolia {M. sieboldi} with white flowers and red pistils.  The flowers hang down and look like small eggs before they open.  At the northwest corner of the Human Resources office is a 'Blue Muffin' Viburnum {V. dentatum 'Blue Muffin'} with flat clusters of white flowers.  These are followed by a very attractive display of blue fruit.  In front of the north side of D&M on Main Street are several evergreen Catawba Rhododendrons {R. catawbiense} coming into bloom with large flower trusses in different shades of pink and purple.  On the east side of the Russell House is a 'Shasta' Doublefile Viburnum {V. plicatum tomentosum'Shasta'} with flat clusters of white flowers sitting above the foliage.  It is this arrangement of the flowers along the branches that gives this shrub its name.

Carolina Allspice	'Tricolor' European Beech	Fringetrees Updated 6/11/09

 

Oyama Magnolia	'Blue Muffin' Viburnum	'Shasta' Doublefile Viburnum

5/26/09  In front of Human Resources at the corner of Merrill and Langdon Streets are two shrubs in bloom.  The Dwarf Korean Lilac {Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'} is a fragrant Lilac with purple buds that lighten to pink as they open.  There are many of these along Highland Street as well as in the new plantings at the Roundabout.  Redvein Enkianthus {E.campanulatus} is blooming with cream colored bell shaped flowers with varying amounts of red.  This very graceful shrub turns red in the fall and is part of the same family as Bearberry, Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel.

Dwarf Korean Lilac Updated 5/29/09	Redvein Enkianthus

5/20/09  In the large garden at the north end of the Silver Center are several Rosy Lights and Northern Hi-Lights Azaleas {Rhododendron x 'Northern Lights} in bloom with deep pink flowers on the Rosy Lights and creamy white flowers with yellow upper petals on the Northern Hi-Lights.  These are part of a series called Northern Lights that has 8 varieties of very hardy deciduous Azaleas.  They have performed very well in Plymouth over the last fifteen years.  In the center of the same bed is our Umbrella Magnolia {M. tripetala} with large creamy white flowers up to 10" across and leaves up to 24" long.  Far and away the largest leaves of any plant on campus.  Just above the top of Court Street is a 'Brioti' Horsechestnut {Aesculus x canea 'Brioti} with very showy spikes of red-orange flowers with yellow throats.  In front of the Bagley House on Highland Street is another Horsechestnut with red flowers, Red Buckeye {Aesculus pavia} is a small shrub with lustrous green 5 petaled foliage and red flower spikes.  It is growing under the Korean Mountain Ash {Sorbus alnifolia}.  The Korean Mountain Ash has white flowers that are followed in the fall by coral colored fruit that is very attractive after the leaves have dropped, especially when the ground is covered with snow.  At Hyde Hall next to the ramp is a large planting of the evergreen Wilson Rhododendron {R. x laetevirens} with flowers in different shades of white and light pink.

Rosy Lights Azaleas	Northern Hi-Lights Azaleas	Umbrella Magnolia	'Brioti' Horsechestnut

 

Red Buckeye Updated 5/29/09	Korean Mountain Ash	Wilson Rhododendron

5/19/09  In front of the south end of D&M on Main Street are several 'Brilliant' Red Chokeberries {Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'} coming into bloom with small white flowers with red anthers.  This is a true multi-season ornamental, with glossy summer foliage, red fall foliage equal to Burning Bush {Euonymus altus compacta}, and a great display of red fruit that lasts well after the leaves drop.  At the east corner of Prospect Hall is a Siebold Viburnum coming into bloom with clusters of cream colored flowers.  Red fruit will follow in August that turns black all too quickly.  This is the same plant that is growing on the right as you walk up the ramp at Hyde Hall.  The foliage is a beautiful shiny green and is reason enough to grow this plant.  At the east end of Speare Hall is a small bank planting of Bigroot Geranium {G. macrorrhizum} that has purple flowers opening.  This is the same groundcover we have planted around the base of our European Larch {Larix decidua} on the large lawn in front of Mary Lyons Hall.  Along the stone wall on the east side of Belknap Hall is a Carolina Silverbell {Halesia tetraptera} that has a profusion of small bell shaped flowers.  This tree was planted in the late 1970's and died to the ground repeatedly and only in the last 10 years has it begun flowering.  It is native to the understory of the forests in the southeastern United States.  At the rear of Russell House is our largest Flowering Dogwood in bloom.  As you can see in the picture our cold weather deforms the bracts that are the showy part of the flowers.  We may still have some of the attractive red fruit this fall, as well as the stunning red fall foliage.

'Brilliant' Red Chokeberries	Siebold Viburnum Updated 5/26/09	Bigroot Geranium Updated 5/29/09	Carolina Silverbell	Flowering Dogwood Updated 5/29/09

5/18/09  In the large bed at the front of Memorial Hall is a group of Highbush Blueberries {Vaccinium corybosum} coming into bloom with small cream colored urn shaped flowers.  I think of these as the ultimate in Edible Ornamentals, not only delicious fruit, but flowers, attractive summer foliage and outstanding red fall foliage.  At the beginning of the President's driveway is a very attractive 'Tina' Crabapple {Malus sargenti 'Tina'} in full bloom with white flowers.  This selection is a seedling of the Sargent Crab, which is the smallest species of Crabapple.  These are the same trees that are growing above the large retaining wall at the west end of the Silver Center parking lot.  Also in the Silver Center parking lot are several 'Centurion' Crabapples with rose-red flowers.  This variety has very glossy red fruit in the fall.  In the lawn area on the south side of Speare Hall are three 'Adirondack' Crabapples {Malus 'Adirondack'} that have a very distinctive narrow growth habit.

Highbush Blueberries	'Tina' Crabapple	'Centurion' Crabapples	'Adirondack' Crabapples

5/15/09  In front of the Hogan House and Human Resources by the intersection of Langdon and Merrill Streets are two Japanese White Flowering Crabapples {Malus floribunda} in bloom with white flowers.  The buds come out red and lighten to pink and finally white as the flowers open.  Introduced from Japan in 1862, this is one of the best Crabapples and the display of yellow fruit in the fall is outstanding.

Japanese White Flowering Crabapples at Hogan	Japanese White Flowering Crabapples at HR

5/13/09  In front of the Hogan House is a group of Pinkshell Azaleas {Rhododendron vaseyi} with attractive pink flowers growing in the shade of our largest Amur Cherry {Prunus maackii}.  Next to the shuttle stop at the Athletic Center are three Siberian Crabapples {Malus baccata} that are the largest Crabapples on campus and were planted around 1980.  This is the most northerly occurring Crabapple and the hardiest.  The Redbud {Cercis canadensis} was described in the May 7th entry, this tree is growing on the north side of D&M, and is our largest example on campus.  All of our Redbuds are from a group of seedlings purchased in 1990 and grown in our nursery for several years.

Pinkshell Azaleas	Siberian Crabapples	Redbud

5/12/09  In front of Facilities Services is an Amur Chokecherry {Prunus maackii} that has white flowers in 3" racemes.  It also has very nice cinnamon colored bark that is especially eye-catching during the winter.  In many locations across the campus the Common Lilacs are blooming.  This most fragrant shrub is our state flower, though it was introduced from southeast Europe.  We have several different colored varieties on campus.  On the east side of Speare Annex is a Lantanaphyllum Viburnum {V.x rhytidophylloides} that has light green buds that will open into cream colored flower clusters.  This hybrid has heavily textured leaves that I find very attractive, though by mid to late  winter they start to look rather weary.

Amur Chokecherry	Common Lilacs	Lantanaphyllum Viburnum

5/12/09  Just below the loading dock at Prospect Hall is a Purple-leaf Sand Cherry {Prunus cistena} nestled behind a Weeping Alaska Cedar {Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula}.  The Sand Cherry has fragrant, single pink flowers and is one of our hardiest purple leaved plants.  Under the 'Winter King' Hawthorn {Crataegus viridis 'Winter King'} at the southwest corner of the HUB is a groundcover planting of Bearberry {Arctostaphylos uva-ursi} that has many small white flowers with pink ends among its evergreen foliage.  An outstanding groundcover in the same family as Rhododendrons.  At the east end of the Athletic Center is an 'Indian Summer' Crabapple {Malus 'Indian Summer'} with outstanding rose-red flowers that will be followed in the fall with bright red fruit.  In front of the Frost House is a weeping 'Louisa' Crabapple {Malus 'Louisa'} whose rose colored buds will open to pink flowers.  In the same bed as the 'Louisa' Crabapple is a group of 'Carol Mackie' Daphne {D. x burkwoodi 'Carol Mackie'} that has very fragrant white flowers and wonderful green foliage with cream colored margins.  This plant looks great from now until early December.  It often will have a few flowers in August and September.  Behind the Shuttle Stop on Highland St is a group of Myrtle-leaf Rhododendrons {R. myrtlifolium} that are covered in rosy pink flowers.  This is one of the best displays these shrubs have ever put on.

Purple-leaf Sand Cherry	Bearberry	'Indian Summer' Crabapple

 

'Louisa' Crabapple	'Carol Mackie' Daphne	Myrtle-leaf Rhododendrons

5/8/09  At the northwest corner of Hall Dorm is a bed of Judd Viburnums {V. x juddi} that simultaneously has deep red buds, as well as very fragrant white flowers already open.  The fragrance often rivals our Lilacs.  In many beds on campus the Dwarf Fothergillas {F. gardenii} are blooming with small white bottlebrush shaped flowers.  This shrub has among the best fall foliage with shades of orange and red and yellow.

Judd Viburnums	Dwarf Fothergillas

5/7/09  In the garden along the stone wall on the east side of Belknap Hall are several plants coming into bloom.  At the south end is a Redbud {Cercis canadensis} described in the 4/30 entry.  Next to the Redbud is a group of 'Molly Fordham' Rhododendrons {R. x Molly Fordham"} with white flowers and small evergreen leaves.  Further along is an 'Olga Mezitt' Rhododendron {R. x Olga Mezitt'} with deep pink flowers.  This is also an evergreen Rhododendron with small leaves whose flowers should open on the next sunny day.

Redbud	'Molly Fordham' Rhododendrons	'Olga Mezitt' Rhododendron

5/6/09  In the bed at the southeast corner of D&M is a small patch of Allegheny Spurge {Pachysandra procumbens} in bloom with many white flowers.  This deciduous shade lover is a volunteer and grows in clumps rather than the carpet habit of the evergreen Japanese Pachysandra {P. terrminalis} which is growing under the ramp at Hyde Hall.

Allegheny Spurge

5/5/09  Along the walkway to Lamson Library are a few 'Purple Gem' Rhododendrons {R. x 'Purple Gem'} in bloom with bluish-purple flowers on a very dwarf plant.  These plants have a hard time withstanding the weight of our snowfalls and often get smaller as they age.

'Purple Gem' Rhododendron

5/4/09  Along the north side of Memorial Hall are four 'Bradford' Pear {Pyrus calleryana 'Bradfordi} that are coming into bloom.  This is one of the most often planted trees in the eastern United States and is the tree planted on Main Street in Plymouth.  The white flowers are followed by glossy green foliage and excellent multi-colored fall foliage that often is cut short by a hard frost.  Unfortunately they color up a little late for our climate.

'Bradford' Pear

4/30/09  At the south end of the stone wall east of Belknap Hall is a Redbud {Cercis canadensis} coming into bloom with many small very pink flowers along its woody stems.  This tree is from a group of seedlings from a Wisconsin stand of Redbuds that is very hardy.  Our two largest Redbuds are on the north side of D&M next to the Episcopal Church on Main Street.  Above the ledge along the west side of the HUB is the evergreen groundcover Periwinkle {Vinca minor} in bloom with bright blue flowers.  This plant does well in sun or shade but it is much more of a challenge to keep the weeds out if there is much sun.  Along the brick walk south of Hyde Hall is a 'Robin Hill' Shadbush {Amelanchier arborea} coming into bloom with pink buds that will lighten to white flowers.  ‘Robin Hill’ is a single stem selection, on the north side of the Silver Center are several plants with a multi-stem habit.

Redbud	Periwinkle	'Robin Hill' Shadbush Updated 5/4/09

4/28/09  At the south side of Speare Hall is a 'PJM' Rhododendron {R. x 'P.J.M.} that is coming into bloom with purple flowers.  This is the most popular Rhododendron in America and was hybridized at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton Mass.  This plant blooms earlier than others because of its protected location against the building.  The evergreen foliage is fragrant and turns a nice mahogany brown in winter.  Next to the PJM is a Korean Mountain Ash {Sorbus alnifolia} with a groundcover of Candytuft {Iberis sempervirens} that has evergreen foliage and white flowers.  Candytuft will usually bloom again in the fall, often with flowers into November.  Outside the main entrance to Memorial Hall is a Saucer Magnolia {M.x soulangeana} that has large purple and white flowers that were just opening this morning.  This is PSU's largest Magnolia.  On the north side of Memorial Hall is a Camperdown Elm {Ulmus glabra 'Camperdowni} that is a grafted tree just six feet tall and planted in 1983.  The flowers are not that colorful, but it is a chance to see Elm flowers close at hand.  To the left of the stairs at the entrance to Ellen Reed House is a group of 'Brouer's Beauty' Pieris that is in bloom with panicles of cream colored flowers.  This is a hybrid of our native Mountain Pieris {P. floribunda} and the Japanese Pieris {P.japonica} that is less hardy.  The flower buds are exposed in the winter and turn red in late fall and make this one of our most colorful winter shrubs.

'PJM' Rhododendron	Candytuft	Saucer Magnolia Updated 5/4/09	'Brouer's Beauty' Pieris

4/27/09  Between Blair Hall and the Bagley House is a Star Magnolia {M. stellata} in full bloom with white flowers and narrower petals than the Merrill Magnolias.  Just south of the Blair Hall entrance are three 'Cornell Pink' Korean Rhododendrons {R. mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink'} that are the first Rhododendrons to bloom in Plymouth.  There is also a group of these on the west side of Prospect Hall.  In the garden on the east side of Bagley House is a group of Grape Hyacinths {Muscari armeniacum} with blue flowers on spikers 6-9" tall.  A very long lived bulb that requires very little care.  At the bottom of the ramp at Hyde Hall is a 'Leonard Messel' Magnolia {M. x loebneri 'Leonard Messel} with pink to purplish flowers that lighten as they open.  At the northeast corner of the HUB Snack Bar is a Mountain Pieris {P. floribunda} with white flowers.  This broadleaf evergreen is native to the Appalachian Mountains and is a very dependable shrub for our climate.

Star Magnolia	'Cornell Pink' Korean Rhododendrons	Grape Hyacinths	'Leonard Messel' Magnolia	Mountain Pieris

4/23/09  On University Way at the northwest corner of Highland Hall parking lot is a mass of Forsythia {F. x intermedia} coming into bloom with many 1" yellow flowers.  This very popular shrub is at the edge of its hardiness zone and the flowers are noticeably less bright than farther south.  Right next to the Forsythia is a Red Maple {Acer rubrum} with red flowers along its stems.  This very popular tree is a mainstay of our eastern forests from Maine to northern Florida.  The green summer foliage will be followed by bright red fall foliage.  At the south side of Ellen Reed is our 'Varied Directions' European Larch {Larix decidua 'Varied Directions} which has just one flower this year that will develop into a cone.  This grafted tree has a very pronounced horizontal habit.

Forsythia	Red Maple	'Varied Directions' European Larch

4/20/09  On several locations on campus the buds of our 'Merrill' Magnolias {M. x loebneri 'Merrill'} are beginning to open to reveal their very fragrant white flowers.  This is our first Magnolia to bloom and the most dependable in our climate.  The summer foliage is a lustrous green with a reddish tint to the new growth.

'Merrill' Magnolias

4/16/09  In front of Prospect Hall there are three 'Golden Glory' Corneliancherry Dogwoods {Cornus mas 'Golden Glory'} coming into bloom.  This is our earliest tree to flower each spring.  The yellow flowers are followed by attractive dark green leaves throughout the summer, red fruit in the fall as well as deep red fall foliage.  There are several of these plants on campus; this picture was taken at the Children's Center on Langdon Street where the protected location allows this plant to be a day or two ahead of the others.

'Golden Glory' Corneliancherry Dogwoods Updated 4/20/09

4/13/09  At the top of the garden at the north end of the Silver Center on Main Street is a large mass of Glory of the Snow {Chionodoxa forbesii} with bright blue flowers.  This bulb is native to Turkey, Crete and Cyprus and in this location had greatly expanded over the original number of bulbs that were planted.

Glory of the Snow

4/6/09  In front of Prospect Hall are many Daffodils {Narcissus sp.} beginning to open their large yellow trumpets.  These are the variety 'King Alfred', registered in 1899 and among the most popular of all Daffodil varieties.

King Alfred Daffodil

4/3/09  Our first Daffodils {Narcissus sp.} of the spring are open at the southwest corner of the HUB growing under a 'Crimson King' Hawthorn {Crataegus viridis W.K.} and are one of our miniature species, barely holding their flowers above the foliage of the Bearberry {Arctostaphylos uva-ursi}.

Dwarf Daffodils

4/2/09  On the south side of Ellen Reed, under the horizontal 'Varied Directions' European Larch {Larix decidua 'V. D.} are the first Winter Aconite {Eranthis hyemalis} I have seen this spring.  A very attractive early bulb that has yet to multiply like the Snowdrops.  Also on the south side of Ellen Reed, in the bed against the building are three different Vernal Witchhazel {Hamamelis vernalis} all with yellow flowers.  At the front of Ellen Reed is PSU's largest Vernal Witchhazel, with orange flowers.  It is the fall blooming species of Hamamelis, Common Witchhazel {H.virginiana} that is the source of the extract Witchhazel, which is still produced in Connecticut and is plentiful in the woods around Plymouth.

Winter Aconite	Vernal Witchhazel Updated 4/23/09

3/31/09  Welcome to the 2009 edition of Plants in Bloom, PSU's calendar of flowering plants on campus.  In front of Prospect Hall on High Street are large groups of yellow and purple Crocuses {C. vernus 'Yellow Mammoth'} and {C. vernus 'Flower Record'}.  In the large garden at the north end of the Silver Center is a group of Common Snowdrops {Galanthus nivalis}.  These have expanded from their original numbers more than any of our bulbs.  In front of Holmes House the Snowdrops have multiplied many times over their original numbers.